The court needs 12 jurors and two alternates to begin the trial in which Wells, 38, is accused of stabbing restaurant owner Jose Vazquez Jr. to death in 2003 during an armed robbery.

Jose Vazquez Jr.

The 11 jurors chosen Monday will be immediately sequestered at an undisclosed hotel to shield them from outside influences, including news reports.

Hunter, prosecutors and the defense team, led by Michael Fawer, have already invested four weeks in selecting a pool of "death penalty-qualified" jurors who can objectively weigh either life or death as punishment if they find Wells guilty as charged.

Wells went to trial in March, but the jury couldn't reach the required unanimous verdict and a mistrial was declared. Wells testified that he killed Vazquez in self-defense after arriving at the Gentilly restaurant to collect money Wells said was owed for sexual favors.

Prosecutors want the death penalty for Wells, who has not left jail since he recovered from the wounds he suffered at the Vazquez Seafood Restaurant. Police found Wells and Vazquez sprawled on the dining room floor.